Receptacle sterilizer



June 14, 7- I I C. BRAUN RECEPTACLE STERILIZER i Filed May 12. 1923 l N 1N VENTOR B1 C/IRL B/mu/v ATTORNEY Patented June 14,1927.

e UNITEDFSTATES i cm Brannon CANASTOTA, NEW romp l l i REGEPT AOL E i Application filed May 12,

This ,invention relates to sterilizing devices and has more special reference to a devicefor sterilizing and drying receptacle parts, more, especially milk canparts.

Conventionally receptacles of this, character are subjected to sterilization generally a treatment in a steam bath, andare then dried by directing an air blast against or into the re ceptacle part, the'condensed steam being evaporated by the air blast. This method of drying is to a certain extent objectionable in that the air .blast which is projected -:against the. receptacle partv simply evapo- -ilization. a a One of the princlpal features of the presratesthe fluidportion ofthe condensed sterilant, leaving any residue deposited on the receptacle part. Not only isthe residue of the sterilant caked? onthe receptacle part by f the methods heretofore in use but the air blast because of admixture withtheouter air is not bacteriologically inert and to a certain extent undoes the effect of the ster:

ent invention-has reference to an improved drier in which the drying operation is effected by creating alvac'uum to withdraw the condensed sterilant and thereby simultaneously remove any matter which may be ment of the device.

i Fig. 1 is a side elevation While but one'embodiment of the invention is disclosed in the accompanying drawing it is tobe understood that this embodiment merely serves as an illustration of the underlying principles of the invention so that it may be readily comprehended by,

those skilled in the art and is not intended as limiting the invention to the specific form disclosed therein.

In said drawing: 7

of the invention artly in section.

partly fragmentary and ig. 1 on the line I Fig. 2 isa section of Continuing now by way of a more detailed description, a hooded table or platform A supports a plurality of steam ster- V ilizing devices B and C carried by a pair PATENTIOF STERILI-ZER.

1923. Serial No. 638,547. v

of preferably parallel brackets longitu-h I dinally disposed with respect to the platform a A and slightly raised therefrom, so that thedrippings from the can covers will be accumulated thereon and may {*be' collectedfor disposal. This pair, of bracketsalso. carries a Water rinsing device F, the rinsing and the sterilizing devices preferably being located in a straight line, the former "being locatedfnear one end of the table so that the receptacle parts as they are started from oneend of the table are subjected to a thorough rinsing before being subjected to the sterilization. plished' preferably by subjecting the receptacle part to a spray of water which maybe and preferably is heated so as to increase its solvent effect. In order that the water jets may acquire the requisite velocity to displace any particles of extraneous matter adhering tothe receptacle part, thewater isintroduced into a chamber'or spray nozzle G having a plurality of perforations G" through a water inlet pipe H atal sutlicient pressure, so that the upwardly projected jets normally rising from the spray nozzle strike the receptacle part with a suflici-ent' In impact to effect thorough rinsing. order to insure a rlnsing of both sides of the can cover, the pipe H has a perforated extension piece H having one end connected to .a'T coupling H and its otherend closed This rinsing is iaccoms by a cap J. The portion of the pipe H overhanging the spray nozzle Gr is also preferably perforated to insure a curtain of descending waterfor substantially all parts of the receptacle part to be treated. In

order to obviate delivery of rinsing fluid when not required, a valve K normally intercepts the flow in the pipe H and has a dependent movable arm K so arranged with respect to the rinsing pan G that the receptacle part lifts the arm when in proper pow sition to receive the rinsing bath. It is contemplated first subjecting the receptacle part (specifically a milk can cover) to arinsing operation, as above indicated, and then to two sterilizing operations. Each of the sterilizing devices B and C comprise a perforated chamber or spray nozzle L similar to the rinsing spray nozzle G and is controlled by receptacle cover operatedvalves M having dependent'arms l similar to the valve K. 'These valves normally intercept the steam in pipes N to avoid waste of the steam. The steam pipe N also furnishes the requisite power jet for an aspirator O which affords the means to create the necessary vacuum on an auxiliary drying plate 1. The aspirator 0 comprises a high pressure 5 steam nozzle P fed bypipe T connected to steam pipe N and adapted to discharge into a waste pipe P of somewhat larger diameter than the diameter of the nozzle and create a suction in the flared drain Q, communicating with the plate P on which the can cover is adapted to fit rather snugly. The suction device P is maintained normally in operation by a valve T having a depending trip arm T similar to and functioning in the same manner as valves M and K.

In order that the cans may be progressively advanced over the rinsing, sterilizing and drying devices, a pair of oppositely disposed guide rails R are supported in any convenient manner and are spaced sufliciently to receive the receptacle object. These rails are fastened to the table in any convenient manner, for example by bowing the ends, these bowed ends forming a desirable flare to tacili ite the insertion of the covers in the runway formed by the spaced rails. In order that the covers may be progressively advanced over the cleanrod S having a plurality of dependent arms S 18 slidably carried in suitable brackets, "the dependent arms being adapted to engage ing devices, a manually operable retractile the covers and on movement of the rod to advance them in the guide ails R from one end of the device to the other end. The can covers are ejected at the rear end of the runway after the completion of the drying operation and may be caught in a suitable receptacle.

The dependent arms S are arranged in pairs on opposite sides of the rod S and are connected by a crossanember or stop S. This stop permits the dependent arms to swing in a coiuiter clockwise direction so that when the rod 55 is retracted the arms will drag over the covers.

It is claimed:

A device for drying milk can parts comprising a perforated horizontal plate adapted to receive the parts, a flared drain dependenttrom the perforated plate and connecting therewith, a waste pipe connected with the lower end of a drain, an aspirating nozzle of restricted diameter adapted to blow into the waste pipe and create a partial vacuum in the flared drain and the can part to dry the latter, and means cooperating with the milk can part to operate said nozzle when the can part is placed in position on the perforated plate.

Signed at Canastota, in the count of Madison and State of New York, this 29th day of April, 1928. A. D.

CARL BRAUN. 

